Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-24
WHITE HOUSE DINNERS.

WHITE HOUSE DINNERS.
How They are Prepared by the Steward of the
Household'-The Great Feature of Official
Dining
The original organic act of the execu-
tive establishment, dating back almost
a century, in designating the personnel
of what was known as the 'oficial house
hold of the president" created the Office
of steward of the household" The
officer holding that place was by law in
trusted with the custody of the plate and
care of the furniture and effects of the
United States kept in the executive man
sion for the use of the president, He
was required to give bonds for the faith
full performance of his trust. He also
had charge of the personal servants of
the president, made all purchases for the
presidents table, and performed such
other duties within the circle of the do
nestle life of the president as might be
assigned him.
When Washington inaugurated his
"official household" in New York under
the act of 1889, he made Samuel Faunce,
local celebrity as a landlord and cater
er, the steward of his household"
Faunce during portion of the period
of the Revolutionary war, had been land
lord of the City tavern, favorite resort
for officers of the English forces during
their occupancy of the city, and of the
American offic when the city passed
into their hands after peace. 1t was the
city tavern, while Faunce was still its
landlord, that Washington and the officers
of his disbanded army met, and where
the general-in-c of the continental
forces took an affecting leave before his
departure for his home at Mount Vernon
There. There has been Steward of the
president s household" ever since, but
the incumbent of the Office has been
changed as often as there have been
presidents. 1t is natural that every
president should desire so important
and close position in his own personal
household to be filled by someone prev
iously known to him.
When Grover Cleveland established
himself in the executive mansion in
March 1885, he appointed William 7.
Sinclair, of Buffalo, stewart of the house
hold" Sinclair began life by assisting
his father In the care of public buildings
in the Queen City of the Lakes. It was
in this capacity twenty years ago, while
having the care of the Western Union
building, in which were the law offices of
the Cleveland firm that he first met that
member of it who is now president of the
United States. Since that time Sinclair
tried the hotel business at Niagara Falls.
which was not success. He spent some
time on the lakes and in hotels, connected
with the stewards department.. Later he
was porter for the United States Express
company, and last in the same capacity
for the bank of commerce. The fidelity
and trustwOrthiness of Sinclaire had come
under Mr.. Cleveland's notice. When
elected to the governorship of New York
he secured his services and made him |
steward of the executive mansion at AL |
bany. In March, 1884, he brought him to |
Washington.
When the president proposes to give a
state dinner Or any other entertainment
outside of the established routine of the
household he indicates the fact, designat-
ing the number Of guests to be invited
and the hour for the dinner. menu
suitable to the occasion is prepared by
the steward in consultation with the chief
the latter arranging the courses, of what
to consist and the quantity of the raw
material required. From this list the
steward makes his purchases. The
articles are delivered to the chef and the
menu is prepared. The table is.spreat
in the same way. The steward, with his
assistants arranges the plate and glasses
for the number of guests to be entertain
ed. The chef indicates the position of
his decorative places. The florist is then
called in to add the final touches of floral
decoration. To arrange table for a
state occasion and to give a novelty is |
Dor1z Of inc Nhn ofy7ra Of
the official dining, next to the menus, of !
the past season was the variety, taste and
elegance of the table equipment and
decoration. The social lunches given by
Mrs Cleveland to her lady friends were
also chef d'oeuvers in this way.
The usua- daily routine of the house
hold is bre ak fast at 8, luncheon at 1:30,
and dinner at Z. State dinners are usually
announced for 7:3O P. M. The serving
of state dinner is in courses by ten to
twelve experienced colOred walters In
full dress. The additional number not
permanently in the mansion are taken
from outside, but are regularly employed
for such occasions on account of their
training in this special service.
There is a mistaken notion that large
share of the official entertaining is paid
for out of contingency fund provided
for the purpose. This is mistake.
Only the Steward of the household" the
florist, doorkeepers, ushers, walters, labor
ers, and metropolitans the furnishing,
heating, and lighting of the mansion and
maintenance of the Conservatives are
paid for out of funds appropriated. Out
of his salery of $4,000 year the presi-
dent pays for his chief and assistants,
for all his official or unofficial table, and
the female domestics in the private parts
of the mansion. He also pays out of his
own pocket for his private coachman,
footmen, and stablemen, and the care of
his private horses. It is a small business
for great nation, but such are the drains
upon the annual stipend allowed the pre-
sident out of the public treasury. The
state dinners are as much part of the
prophecies of his high public station as
are his ceremonial receptions to the
diplomatic corps, the congress, the judi
ciary, the army, and the navy, and the
sovereign public. And dereliction on his
part in this respect would be heralden far
and wide as an official misdemeanor. Even